Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-11-15

1t Has Contributed More Toward Accom-
plishing the Results of Modern Civili- |
zation Than All the Other Races-Why
This Is True.
The Anglo-Saxon race, with its co-opera-
tive Celtic branches, may be pardoned for
being little selfcomplacent and egotistical.
It is younger in its career than any other Eu-
pean race and during many centuries it
lacked the territorial advantages possessed by
its rivals, and it still lacks their advantages
in population. Yet it has accomplished more
in the chief exploits that go to make up ma
tional greatness, and contributed more to the
achievements of modern civilization than all
the other races combined 1t has given uni
form language to more than l00,0OO,0 900 of
people, language enriched by literature
which, upon the whole, from Chaucer to Her.
bert Spencer, in science, philosophy, history,
law, poetry, romance and criticism, rivals, if
it does not surpass, the literature of all the
other modern nations of Continental Europe.
This declaration may cause an Italian,
Frentflnhn, German, or dweller upon the
Iberian peninsula to stand aghast; but we
know the literature of those people better
| than they know Anglo-Saxon literature. 1t
| has contributed nearly all the important ill.,
| ventions that add to the comfort and con-
4 venience of modern society. Obliterate the
| effects of its mechanical and scientific de-
| vices from the face of modern CIVILIZATION
and the world would seem to fall into almost
medieval simplicity in a single day. Even
| the art of printing, a Chinese art originally,
but credited to continental Europe as its
| al cnlitarv hntiOn fn the
ventive arts that have influenced modern
civilization favorably owes its chief utility
to the devices of Anglo-Saxons.
AGAINST THE WORLD.
Finally, the Anglo-Saxon countries count
their wealth in comparison with the COM
bined wealth of all other countries that are
intelligent enough to count statistically, and
if the balance be not in their favor the
estimate will be so nearly equal that it would
be hard to tell to which side the preponder
ance inclines. In almost everything thai
speaks of achievement save the musical and
fine arts, it is the Anglo-Saxon race againSt
the world, and in most practical things 1t l.
the Anglo-Saxon race alone, and there Is nt
competitor. Why is this truei
!. If we trace the growth of Anglo-SaXor
civilization We find the answer to this ques
ton. The race advances moro rapidly THAI
other races, because it makes use of bette
agencies for promoting the interests OF so
ciety than its rivals and culdvates NOR
stolid spirit of self dependence. From tn
reign of the earlier English kings down 4
the American revolution, and followin!
through all the earlier and later years of ou
own republic, there has been persisten
and an almost intermittent contest i'll favo
of personal Independence and the right to i'll
augurate, carry forward and control per
sonal affairs without let or hindrance frou
superior authority. The traits implied il
this contest have not found their most ade
quate expression in England. The emanc
patton of Englishmen, struggling to obtain
firm foothold among the continually crun
q bling debris of feudal institutions, has been
! slow process. But it has been continuous
,. and in all Anglo-Saxon communities the IL
dividual and society have long been the frs
objects of consideration, the governmer
~ being held only as their dependent and sci
want The former lead and the latte
through its official representatives, whethC
,t hereditary or chosen, is only expected
r follow and sustain. William Nelson Blac
+ in New York Sun.